Rotary engine.



No. 713,541. Patented Nov. Il, |902.

G. M. WALKER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

App1cation led Apr. 12, 1902.) No model.) s sheets-sheet yBY A TTOHNEYS1n: mams PETERS coIPHoTu-uwc.. wAsmMsroN. u. c:

N0. 7|3,54|. Patented Nov. Il, |902.I G. M. WALKER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Applicatiou filed Apr. 12, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. N VN T019 G60/17PM Mey/wr w/T'NEssEs A TTOHNEYS No. 7|3,54!. PatentedNov. Il., |902.

G. M. WALKER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application med Apr. 12, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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GEORGE M. WALKER, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

ROTARY ENGENE.

SPECIFECATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,541, dated November11, 1902. Application filed April 12J 1902. Serial No. 102,551.V (Nomodel.)

To (t2/Z whom it muy concer/7,."

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Lincoln, in the county of Lancasterl and State ofNebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines,of which the following is a'full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines of that classknown as rotary concentric piston, from the fact that the piston isdisposed in concentric relation to a surrounding annular casing.

The objects that 1 have in view are the provision of means for utilizingthe steam expansively in a rotary-piston engine; to auto maticallyadjust the abutments of the rotary piston for operation according to thedirec-` tion in which the engine is desired to be driven; to provideduid-pressure means for reversing the positions of the abutments,andconsequently to reverse the direction of rotation of the piston; toprovide a simple valve mechanism for controlling the admission of themotive fluid'to the piston and the exhaust of the iiuid therefrom, andto simplify the construction, to secure eiiiciency in operation, andenable the engine to be manufactured at a moderate cost.

W'ith these ends in View the invention consists in the combination,construction, and arrangement of parts, which Will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in Which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rotary engine embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the casing,illustrating the revoluble piston in elevation, the plane of the sectionbeing indicated by dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section in the plane of the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. et. Fig.4 is a section at right angles to Fig. 3 and in the plane of the dottedline i 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section at right angles to the shaft,the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in the plane of the engine-shaft andas indicated by the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View through one of the exhaust-valves anda part of the cylinder-lining, the plane of the section being indicatedby the irregular line 7 7 of Fig.

5 designates the casing or cylinder of my improved rotary engine, thesame having the enlarged base 6, which is bolted on the bedplate 7.Through this cylinder extends the horizontal engine-shaft S, Which ismounted in the bearings 9 of the standards 10. The end portions of thiscircular casing or cylinder are closed by the application of thecylinder-heads 1l, which may be secured to the casing or cylinder by anysuitable means, so as to securev steam-tight joints, and these heads areprovided With the annular flanges 12 13. VSaid iianges are provided onthe inner opposing faces of the heads, and they are disposed incorresponding concentric positions,

as clearly indicated by Figs. 4 and 6. The flanges 12 13 are provided intheir upper surfaces with semicircular grooves 14 15, respectively, andthese grooves terminate at the upper side of the iianges in the ports oropenings 14 15a, (see Fig. 4,) While the lower ends of the semicirculargrooves terminate in the ports 14Eb 15b.

16 designates a metallic lining, Which is of annular form and is securedrmly in place Within the casing or cylinder 5. This metallic lining isprovided at the top side of the casing with a removable section 17,which is equipped With the abutments 18. The annular lining isfurthermore provided on its outer surface with the grooves 19,formingthe annular spaces between the lining and the cylinder, which spacesterminate at the shoulders 19% (Shown by Fig. 3.) The lining is providedWith the oppositely-placed exhaustports 20 21, having communication withthe exhaust-passages 22, which are formed in the valve-chest 23, thelatter surmounting the cylinder or casing 5. The rotary piston 25 iskeyed or otherwise made fast to the shaft 8, so as to rotate therewith,and said piston is disposed Within the cylinder or casing 5 inconcentric relation thereto. The piston is provided with a series ofannular grooves,

the same being indicated at 26 27 in Figs. 2 and 6, although I reservethe right to form any desired number of grooves in the circumference ofthe rotary piston, according to the IOD desired capacity of the engine.The rotary piston has its chambers 26 27 separated or' divided by theannular ribs or flanges, (indicated at 28 29,) and these annular flangesare disposed to fit snugly within the circular lining 16, whereby theannular steam-chambers are formed around the piston by the describedconstruction and by arranging it within the lining of the cylinder. Eachannular steamchamber is provided with an adjustable abutment, the sameforming a reversible surface, against which the steam is adapted toexert pressure in order to drive the piston in one direction or theother. In the drawings the two steam-chambers 26 27 of the piston areprovided with the abutments, (indicated at 30 3l by full and dottedlines, respectively, in Fig. 3,) and these abutments are arranged atdiametrically opposite points with relation to the piston.

Of course an increased number ot' steamchambers in the piston requires acorresponding increase in the number of abutments, and these abutmentsare arranged equidistaut in order that they may be successively forcedinto service on the rotation of the piston. Each abutment is providedwith a curved portion adapted to iit snugly in a recess 32, which isformed in the piston and is adapted to communicate with the socket 33,the latter being also provided in the piston and disposed in a positionfor communication with one of the annular steam-chambers 26 27. Eachreversible abutment is pivoted to the piston by a pin, as at 34, andsaid abutment has the laterally-extending wings 35 36. The abutment ispivoted to the piston in such a position that one or the other of thewings thereof may be extended from the recess 32 and into the steam-chamber 26 or 27. In the position shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings the pistonis adapted to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow, so thatthe steam will exert pressure against the wings 35, the latterprojecting across the steam-chambers. In order to reverse the engine,however, it is necessary to change the positions of the abutments 30 3land to reverse the valves, thus driving the abutments to the reverseposition to that shown in Fig. 3 and making the wings 36 take activepositions across the steamchambers of the piston. The means forreversing the pivoted abutments by the pressure of the motive fluid willbe hereinafter described.

The end portions of the rotary piston beyond the annular collars 29 arereduced in diameter, so as to form the annular steamchests, (indicatedby the numerals 37 38, the) same being provided at the opposite endportions ot' the piston. These chests are arranged to extend into theannular lianges 12 13 on the opposite heads 11 of the cylinder, and thusthe end portions or the steam-chests of the rotary piston are revolublewith the piston therein. This arrangement of the parts makes the annulardang-es 12 13 extend into the end portions of the circular lining 16, asshown by Figs. 2, 4, and 6, and thus said annular flanges 11 12 aredisposed between the steam-chests 37 38 of the piston and the lining 16of the cylinder. The steam-chests 37 38 are provided with the radialpartitions 39, forming the separate compartments 40 41 in thesteamchests, and the radial compartments of the steam-chest 37 lie inalternate relation to the corresponding positions of the-compartments ofthe other steam-chest 38, thus arranging the compartments 40 4l of onesteam-chest in alternate relation to the compartments of the othersteam-chest. The compartments of one steam-chest are adapted tocommunicate with one of the semicircular chambers 14 or 15, which areformed by the semicircnlar grooves in the outer faces of the annularflanges 12 13, and each steam-chest is adapted to be supplied with steamthrough the ports of one of the semicircular chambers 14 or 15, asindicated more clearly by Fig. 5. With the compartments 40 41 of thesteamchest 38 communicate the steam-passages 42 43, as shown by Fig. 6,and the passage 42 is arranged to terminate in a port 42 in rear of thewing 36 on the reversible abutment 30, while the other passage 43terminates in a port 43fL below the wing 36 of the other abutment 31, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereby the compartments of onesteam-chest are adapted to supply steam to corresponding wings of thedierent abutments. In like manner the compartments 40 41 of the othersteam-chest 37 have passages 44 45 in communication therewith, and onepassage 44 terminates in a port 44, which opens in rear of the wing 35on the abutment 30,while the other passage 45 has a port 45:t disposedin like relation to the wing 35 on the other abutment 3l. The diierentcompartments of the steam-chests disposed at opposite ends of the pistonthus have individual communication with dierent wings of the respectiveabutments, and these abutments may be simultaneously shifted bysteam-pressure, which is supplied to the compartments of thesteam-chests 37 38 through the semicircular chambers 14 15, which areprovided in the annular flanges 12 13.

The valve-chest 23 is provided with a central compartment 46, adapted toreceive an inlet-valve 47, and to this compartment of the valve-chest isunited a feed-pipe 48. The inlet-valve 47 is of the rocking type, and itis provided with two passages 49 50, which do not communicate with eachother and which extend toward the opposite ends of the valve. Thepassage 49 terminates at one end in an inlet-port 49a and at its otherend in a port 49h, adapted to register with the port 14, by which steammay be supplied in one position of the valve to the steam-chest 37 andthence through the passages 44 45 to the chambers 27 28 of the engine.The other passage 50 of the valve terminates at one end in an in- ICOIIO

vias-1i let-port 50a and at the other end in a port 50h, which in theposition of the valve shown by Fig. 4 brings the port 50i) intocommunication with the passage 15a, whereby steam may be admitted by thepassages 42 43 to the compartments of the other steam-chest 38, thusadmitting steam to the chambers 26 27 in rear of the reversibleabutments. It will be understood that this valve 47 may be changedWithin the valve-chest, so as to bring either passage 49 or 50 intopostion for service, and thus the steam may be directed to either of thesteam-chests 37 3S and against either of the Wings of the reversibleabutments. Of course if the valve 47 is reversed the pressure of thesteam against corresponding Wings of the abutnients Will change thepositions of the latter and the piston Will be caused to rotate in anopposite direction.

The valve-chest 23 is furthermore provided with the compartments 5l 52,which accommodate the exhaust-valves 53 54, respectively, one of saidvalves being shown more clearly by Fig. 7. Each exhaust-valve isprovided with a chamber or passage 55, having ports 56 arranged tocommunicate with the chambers 26 27 of the engine, and said valve isfurthermore provided With an egress-port 57, Which has communicationwith the exhaustpipe 5S.

The inlet-valve 47 is provided with a spindle 59, having a polygonal end60 adapted for the application of a suitable means for turning thevalve, and said valve spindle is equipped with a spur-gear 6l, havingintermeshing engagement with similar spur-gears 62 63 on the spindles G4ofthe exhaust-valves 52 53, whereby the exhaust-valves are actuated simultaneonsly with the inlet-valve, and the valves may be adjusted tobring one of them into service at the same time that the other valve iscut out of communication With the chambers 26 27 of the engine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A rotaryengine, having a concentric piston providedwith reversible abutments, and with means whereby the abutments may beautomatically reversed by the pressure ofthe motive fluid.

2. Arotary engine, havingaconcentricpiston provided With steam-chambersand with steam-chests, reversible abutments mounted in the piston andadapted to assume operative positions across the steam chambers therein,steam-passages between the steamchests and the chambers of the piston,and a valve mechanism arranged to control the supply and exhaust ofsteam through the valvechests and the chambers.

3. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a revoluble concentric pistonprovided with steam-chambers and at its ends with independentsteam-chests, reversible abutments individually pivoted in thesteam-chambers of said piston, passages connecting each steam-chest ofthe piston with one steamchamber therein and adapted to alternatelydirect the motive duid against the reversible abutments, and aninlet-valve operable to direct the course of the motive fluid intoeither of the valve-chests.

4. Arotaryengine,comprisingacasinghaving its head formed withinwardly-extended annular iianges Which are provided With separatesteam-chambers, a rotary piston provided at its end portions Withsteam-chests which are disposed within the annular anges of said heads,annular steam-chambers inthe piston and having communication with thesteam-chests, reversible abutments in the steam-chambers of the piston,an inlet-valve controlling the admission of the motive fluid to thesteam-chests separately, and exhaustvalves arranged individually to havecommunication with the steam-chambers of the piston.

5. A rotary engine,having a concentric pis- Iton provided withsteam-chambers and end steam-chests, an inlet-valve arranged to controlthe admission to the chests individually, reversible exhaust-valvesoperatively connected with the inlet-valve and adapted t0 separatelycommunicate with the steamchambers of the piston, and reversibleabutments mounted in the piston.

6. Arotary engine,comprisingapiston having at its end portions separatesteam-chests and also provided with intermediate annular steam-chambers,each steam-chamber communicating with a recess into which open separatepassages leading from the respective steam-chests, combined With aninlet-valve arranged to direct steam into either of the steam-chests,and exhaustvalves having communication individually with thesteamchambers. l

7. In a rotary engine, a concentric piston provided with a series ofannular steam-chambers, and a series of divided steam-chests, eachhaving passages leading therefrom to the diierent steam-chambers, and areversible abutment pivoted in each steam-chamber and provided Withmeans arranged separately in the paths of the connecting passages fromthe steam-chests, combined With a cylinder, and suitable inlet andexhaust valves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE M. XVALKER.

Vvitnesses:

ARTHUR R. SHELDON, ALEXANDER SooULLER.

IOO

